John Cahit Akbulut: The TABA is currently the only Law Association set up for those attorneys of Turkish background in the United States

Mr. Akbulut was born in the city of Giresun in 1957. He completed his law study at Istanbul University Law Faculty in 1980 and he moved to the United States right after that. Then he continued advance law study at New York University and sat New York State bar. 

After completion of his study, he started to work with a New York law firm for fourteen years, and then he started my his practice in 1998. Last twelve years he has been running his own law office. 


He has been married more than 30 years and has two boys, one is about to finish his law school and the other one just started his second year of law school.

TAIK: How long you have been living in USA? How have you developed your career in this country? 

Mr. Akbulut: I earned my law degree in 1980 from Istanbul Law School. After my graduation from law school, I moved to the United States and upon completion my advanced law study in New York, I began my employment with an American law firm located in New York City. 14 years later, I founded my own law practice in 1998, where I specialize in immigration and business law. 

I have resided in the United States since 1981. I spent the first fourteen years of my career practicing with a law firm specializing in immigration and business law. This afforded me the opportunity to refine my skills and become an expert in the areas of immigration and business law. I have successfully applied this foundation of knowledge to my own successful law practice. 

I currently serve as a legal counsel to the Federation of Turkish American Associations, and have set up and sit on the board of directors of several non-profit organizations in the New York metropolitan area. 

I have two sons, both of which are currently pursuing their law degree in the United States. My sons are committed to the Turkish community, and fully intend on joining my law practice upon graduation. They will provide legal services to the Turkish community in addition to assisting Turkish non-profit organizations in the New York region. 

TAIK: Recently, Turkish American Bar Association was established. Would you please give us a brief story of foundation of this association? 

Mr. Akbulut: I founded the Turkish American Bar Association (TABA) in an effort to provide a meeting point for its members to organize discussion groups and to provide a forum to address the needs and concerns of the Turkish American Attorneys and the community it serves. During the course of my career, I have come across dozens of Turkish attorneys that have expressed an interest in such an organization. The TABA is currently the only Law Association set up for those attorneys of Turkish background in the United States. 

TAIK: What will provide Turkish American Bar Association to Turkish people who live in U.S.? 

Mr. Akbulut: The organization will serve the Turkish community in the United States, including both individuals and businesses, by providing them access to free seminars and a pool of Turkish attorneys with a variety of legal specialties serving their needs. With regard to those individuals without the financial means to afford legal counsel, the TABA will provide competent skilled pro bono services. 

TAIK: You are the founding president of Long Island Turkish American Assembly. What are the basic objectives and activities of this association? 

Mr. Akbulut: I am the co-founder of Turkish American Cultural Association of Long Island (TACALI), a non-profit organization located in Long Island, New York. The objective of TACALI was to provide educational and cultural opportunities to children interested in their Turkish heritage. The Association sponsored classes in the Turkish language and provided instructional activities in Turkish art, dancing and culture. 

TAIK: How would you evaluate Turkish American business relations? What advice would you like to give to the business people considering investing in Turkey? 

Mr. Akbulut: Turkish American business relations have been relatively solid, although it has sustained a decline with the substantial drop in the national and local economy as well as the current Turkish government’s political actions. The affect of the geopolitical discourse cannot be minimized, as Turkish American relations are directly affected by the Turkish government’s failure to draw a balance between competing interests abroad. 
If my client were to approach me about the potential to invest their capital in Turkey, I would first advise them to evaluate their current financial position, goals and risk level. While Turkey presents a viable economic climate and seems to be a more sound investment than most other European countries, any investment in the current financial climate involves substantial risks. I would certainly encourage any foreign investor to strongly consider a partnership with a successful company in Turkey that is familiar with local rules, regulations and business practices. 

TAIK: What do you recommend for the investors who are considering to invest and obtain legal status in the US? 

Mr. Akbulut: There is a great opportunity for those who wish to invest and obtain permanent resident status in the United States. This is called EB-5 visa program. The EB-5 investment visa allows permanent residency (Green Card) for you, your spouse and any children under the age of 21. It requires an investment of $500,000 in one of approximately 100 US government approved regional centers. For Turkish investors looking for freedom and flexibility to live and work in the United States, in a way accommodating to their lifestyles, the EB-5 Visa investor category can provide an excellent opportunity to accomplish this goal by obtaining Green Cards. Emigrating to the United States via the EB-5 Visa allows you and your family to live, work or retire anywhere within the United States and eventually (after 5 years) become an US citizen.